September 10-12, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2024
In the early stages of the Korean War, the Air Force began trialing lightweight revolvers to be issued to aircrews for use in survival situations. 40,000 of the alloy frame revolvers were ordered from Smith & Wesson. The inherent weakness of the alloy construction led the government to destroy the revolvers, leaving very few survivors that were already issued to crews. Most of the revolvers, barring early examples which were numbered in their own Air Force sequence, fall into the C247000 to C405363. This revolver was manufactured in late 1953 on a 4 screw anodized alloy K-frame. Per an Air Force request production switched from 5 screw to 4 screw frames that year, although civilian production of 5 screw Airweight frames continued until 1955. The left side of the frame marked at the top "REVOLVER, LIGHT WEIGHT, M 13". Although usually found without spaces in lightweight and M13, Supica & Nahas note some 5 screw guns and a few early 4 screw guns have the spaces. Backstrap also stamped with "PROPERTY OF U.S. AIRFORCE" marking. 2" snub nose barrel and alloy cylinder. 2-piece diamond checkered round butt grips inset with S&W medallions. Matching numbers observed on butt, cylinder breech face, and underside of barrel. Inside of the right grip numbered "275 / 566", appearing to have been on this gun for a long time. Matching assembly numbers also present on frame and crane. CONDITION: Good. Revolver retains the vast majority of its factory anodized finish with areas of wear, especially on the top of frame, cylinder, and trigger guard. Some abrasion also present on the butt and back strap. Case colors are slightly faded on trigger and hammer with a spot of oxidation on the right side of the hammer. Grips have commensurate wear and dings. Very good, bright bore with well defined rifling. Crisp mechanics.
Manufacturer
Smith & wesson